Paul McStay is a great choice to unfurl the flag says Luke McCowan | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers told The Celtic Star on Friday afternoon at Lennoxtown that meeting Paul McStay during the manager’s first stint as Celtic manager saw him immediately revert to fan-bhoy mode as he got the chance to shake hands and chat to one of his own Celtic heroes from his time watching Celtic back home in Ireland…

“Paul McStay would probably play in two positions for me. He was amazing,” the Celtic manager told The Celtic Star. “When the club spoke to me and told me that there was the possibility of him coming to do the flag day, I went into my boy mode again and… what an amazing icon of the club he is. It’s just a shame you don’t see so much of him; he’s obviously on the other side of the world. But that was my memories growing up.

“You know, with Paul on the team… just an icon of the club and such a humble guy. I had the privilege of meeting him for the first time when I was here. He came into my office, and it was just… what a brilliant player. So to see him on Sunday will be amazing. He was such an icon at such a tough time for Celtic as well, but just a… I can’t speak highly enough of him as a player, and obviously, the humility he has. I don’t know Paul that well, but I know many people who do, and like I said, he was… just meeting him when I did that first time, he just… the humility of the guy when really all I wanted to do was bow at his feet. He’s such a brilliant player.”

Luke McCowan of Celtic in action during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

And Luke McCowan is no different as the Celtic midfielder and his Celtic supporting teammates like Anthony Ralston, Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney get set to meant a living Celtic legend this afternoon as Paul McStay returns to Paradise to unfurl the Scottish Premiership winners flag.

The Maestro will of course enjoy meeting the current crop of Celtic players and may advise them to love every single minute of today’s like today because in Paul’s day title triumphs were harder to come by than appears to be the case in the current era, through no fault of Paul McStay it has to be noted.

1988: Paul McStay of Celtic during the Scottish Cup Final against Dundee Utd at Hampden . Celtic won the match 2-1 Photo Allsport UK /Allsport

Asked what it will mean to him to meet Paul McStay, the Celtic midfielder like his manager reverted to type to become the Celtic supporter.

“It will mean a great deal, it really will,” Luke McCowan said, as reported by Daily Record. “Paul retired shortly before I was born but, of course, I know all about him. He is a Celtic legend, a one-club man who made nearly 700 appearances over 16 years and won 76 caps for Scotland.

“When the fans voted for the Greatest Ever Celtic side, he was picked to play in centre midfield – that tells you everything you need to know about him. He was in there alongside the likes of Henrik Larsson, Kenny Dalglish, Jinky Johnstone, Billy McNeill and Bobby Lennox. What a team that would have been!

27 August 2000: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates during the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport

“Paul is one of those guys who if you told me when I was a kid that I might get the chance to meet one day, I would have been so happy. Hopefully I will get that chance. I don’t know what I will say to him, right enough. With a bit of luck something will come to me!

“It will be a pleasure, though, I am sure of that, and I think he is a great choice to unfurl the flag. He’ll get a tremendous reception from the fans and if he can help inspire us to get off to a flying start then so much the better.”

SEASON 1983/1984 CELTIC – Celtic manager Davie Hay presents the Shoot trophy to  Paul McStay.

Paul McStay is certain to get a brilliant welcome home welcome from the Celtic support, although one or two also in the presentation ceremony might not be so lucky!

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